Sun Sep 15 10:22:40 UTC 2024: ## Activist and Presidential Candidate Omoyele Sowore Arrested Upon Arrival in Nigeria
**LAGOS, NIGERIA -** Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, was arrested Sunday morning at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria. Sowore, who had been in the United States, arrived in Lagos on a flight from Washington Dulles International Airport.
His arrest was confirmed by Sowore himself on X (formerly Twitter), where he stated that upon reaching immigration, his passport was seized and he was told he had been detained. He attributed this to a broader crackdown on dissent by the Nigerian government and their fear of upcoming protests planned for October 1st.
Sowore’s arrest follows a leaked memo from the Department of State Services (DSS) dated August 16th, 2024, which ordered operatives to detain Sowore upon his arrival. The memo, citing “Watchlist F,” stated that Sowore, an activist and founder of Sahara Reporters, was to be escorted to the DSS headquarters.
Prior to his arrest, Sowore had publicly criticized the DSS for upgrading his status on their “watchlist,” vowing to return to Nigeria despite the directives. He had also criticized the government’s perceived failure to effectively address terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping while highlighting the lack of action against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello despite alleged financial crimes.
Sowore’s arrest is the latest incident in a series of alleged government crackdowns on opposition figures and activists. It remains unclear what charges Sowore will face or the length of his detention.
First Piper 